Home › Pregnancy week by week › Week 25
25 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby, Your Body and What to Do
Your baby is filling out, with more hair and a stronger startle reflex.
Before you use this guide: Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period. Sizes are rough averages, and healthy babies vary. This is general information, not an individual medical assessment, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor or midwife.
How your baby is growing
Your baby is getting plumper as fat builds up under the skin. The hair on the head is growing, and it may already have colour and texture, although it can change after birth. The tiny blood vessels in the skin make your baby look pink.
The nostrils are opening, so your baby can practise breathing in amniotic fluid. The hands are well developed, and your baby may grip the umbilical cord.
How you may be feeling
Your skin may be itchy and your tummy may feel tight. You might have haemorrhoids, bleeding gums or trouble sleeping. If your hips ache, sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees helps. Forgetfulness, sometimes called pregnancy brain, is common and will pass.
Your to-do list for week 25
- Brush your teeth gently and see a dentist. Swollen gums bleed more easily in pregnancy.
- Write lists and use reminders. Forgetfulness is normal.
- Keep moving every day with walks or an antenatal exercise class.
- Start to compare car seats, prams and cots, but there is no need to buy before you are ready.
When to ask for help
Itching all over, or on the hands and feet without a rash, particularly at night, should be reported to your midwife quickly. It can be linked to a liver condition called obstetric cholestasis, which needs blood tests.
For heavy bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, a severe headache with vision changes, or a baby who is moving less than usual, do not wait for your next appointment. Contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away. Our guide to pregnancy warning signs has more detail.
Not sure which week you are in? Use the due-date calculator to estimate your due date and current week.
Useful at this stage: pregnancy weight gain calculator and baby shower planner.
Trusted resources to read next
These public health resources provide additional information. Guidance can vary by country, so prioritise advice from your own care team and local health service.
- NHS: Pregnancy — Pregnancy care, common symptoms, screening and complications.
- NHS: Week-by-week pregnancy guide — Pregnancy development and care by week.
This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.